Practicing veterinarians, veterinary technicians, professional aquarists, fish researchers, and tropical fish hobbyists will find this thorough yet concise handbook a complete how-to guide for keeping fish under human care healthy and thriving. Whether you're new to fish medicine and husbandry or an expert in the field, there is valuable information within these pages for you. The book is arranged in a logical order so that readers can quickly and efficiently find the information they seek. The book is filled with valuable and applicable information on dozens of topics including how to manage aquatic life support systems for fish, history taking, natural history, anatomy, physiology, diagnostic techniques, anesthesia, analgesia, and surgery. Virtually all of the most important ornamental fish pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, are described and richly illustrated. There are also sections on fish welfare and conservation.
While there are many books on the market that explore the topics of ornamental fish health and care, none provide the amount of helpful information and resources in such a small, affordable package.
Practicing veterinarians, veterinary technicians, professional aquarists, fish researchers, and tropical fish hobbyists will find this thorough yet concise handbook a complete how-to guide for keeping fish under human care healthy and thriving.
1. Aquarium Fish Families and Species. Common Groups. Popular Freshwater
Ornamental Fishes. Popular Tropical Marine Ornamental Fishes. Popular
Aquarium Non-Fish Species. Laws and Permits
2. Aquarium Systems and Water
Quality. Important System Processes. Tank Essentials. Water Chemistry
Reference Ranges. The Nitrogen Cycle in Aquarium and Pond Systems. Water
Quality: Chemical Imbalances and Management. Tank and Water Tips. Salt
Calculations for Common Volumes of Water
3. Nutrition and Diet. General
Nutrient Requirements and Feed Ingredients. Macronutrients. Micronutrients.
Additional Considerations. Amount
4. General Reproduction. Sexing Select
Species/Groups. General Reproductive Strategies. General Notes on Tropical
Fish Early Life Stages. Egg-Binding (Egg Retention/Dystocia)
5. Clinical Case
Work Ups: Initial Considerations Examination
6. Ante-Mortem Diagnostics
External Wet Mount Biopsies. Bacterial Culture Non-Sacrificial. Blood
Collection Techniques. Diagnostic Evaluation of Samples. Hematology
7.
Imaging Radiography and Ultrasonography General Comments. Examples
8.
Post-Mortem Evaluation. General Comments on Specimen Quality. Necropsy
Supplies. Microbiology Supplies. Wet Mount Evaluation. Necropsy and
Microbiology. Normal Fish Anatomy
9. Euthanasia, Anesthesia, and Sedation
General Considerations for Euthanasia. Indicators of Death in Fish.
Euthanasia Methods. Anesthesia and Sedation. Anesthesia Tips
10. Surgery
Common Indications for Surgery. Fish Anesthesia Deliver System. Induction,
Maintenance, and Monitoring. Fish Preparation. Surgical Tips
10. Infectious
Diseases. General Management Considerations. Preventive Care: Vaccines.
Parasitic Diseases of Aquarium Fish. Bacterial Diseases of Aquarium Fish.
Viral Diseases of Aquarium Fish. Fungal Diseases of Aquarium Fish. Reportable
Diseases. Zoonoses.
12. Common Medical Conditions. Fatty Liver Disease.
Neoplasia. Buoyancy Problems (Swim Bladder Disease). Superficial Wounds.
Signs Associated with Water Quality Problems. Head and Lateral Line Erosion
Syndrome (HLLES) of Marine Fish. Ocular Diseases. Nutritional Diseases.
Constipation. Behavioral Considerations
13. Health Certificates/Certificate
of Veterinary Inspection
14. Drugs and Chemicals: Administration Methods and
Formulary. Pre-treatment Considerations. Routes of Drug and Chemical
Administration for Ornamental Fish. Drugs and Dosages.
15. Equipment and
Supplies Checklist. Husbandry. Medical. Microbiology. Drugs and Other
Compounds. Diagnostic Materials.
16. Material Resources. Products and
Services. Water Chemistry Test Kits. Fish Drug Distributors. Other
Informational Resources. References/Further Reading.
Greg worked for a large wholesaler of ornamental fishes before joining the faculty at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993, where he is Professor of Aquatic, Wildlife, and Zoological Medicine. He is a diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Zoological Medicine. Hes authored or co-authored over 200 scientific articles, 30 book chapters, and edited or co-edited five veterinary textbooks.
Roy worked for a large ornamental fish farm before joining the University of Florida IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in 1996. As Professor and Extension Veterinarian, he provides outreach, research, and educational programs in disease diagnostics and health management. He has authored numerous articles and book chapters, co-founded the American Association of Fish Veterinarians, and hosts the Aquariumania podcast on PetLifeRadio.
